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WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS

WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS. Kim Marie Tolson , ULM James M. LaCour , LDWF. Misconceptions in the Media. Misconceptions in the Media. “Adult sows can produce three litters a year.”. Misconceptions in the Media. “Adult sows can produce three litters a year.”

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WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS

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  1. WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS Kim Marie Tolson, ULM James M. LaCour, LDWF

  2. Misconceptions in the Media

  3. Misconceptions in the Media “Adult sows can produce three litters a year.”

  4. Misconceptions in the Media “Adult sows can produce three litters a year.” “one female can have 300 piglets in two years”

  5. BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS • Habitat generalists • Low natural mortality • Opportunistic omnivores • High reproductive potential

  6. BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS • Habitat generalists • Low natural mortality • Opportunistic omnivores • High reproductive potential

  7. BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS • Habitat generalists • Low natural mortality • Opportunistic omnivores • High reproductive potential

  8. BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS • Habitat generalists • Low natural mortality • Opportunistic omnivores • High reproductive potential

  9. BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS • Habitat generalists • Low natural mortality • Opportunistic omnivores • High reproductive potential

  10. Wild Pig Breeding Biology • Early reproductive maturity • Gestation period ~114 days • 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days • potential multiple litters/yr • Capability to produce large litters HIGH REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL!!

  11. OBJECTIVES • Characterize the breeding biology of wild pigs in Louisiana • Determine average litter size • Calculate reproductive efficiency • Determine peak breeding dates • Compare data with other populations of feral hogs

  12. METHODS • Collection May 2010 to June 2011 • Reproductive tracts removed: ovaries & uterus - Collection Date - Location (Parish) - Weight - Notes - Tracts frozen

  13. METHODS • OVARIES • Preserved in 10% buffered formalin • Sliced in 1-2 mm sections • Presence/number of follicles or corpora lutea (CL) Ovary with CL Ovary with follicles Photos courtesy Meg O’Boyle

  14. METHODS • UTERI • Number and gender of fetuses • Crown-rump measurements (avg. for litter) • Extrapolate breeding and farrowing dates (Henry 1968)

  15. RESULTS • 87 Reproductive Tracts • 80 Adults + 7 Sub-adults • 47 lb. sow with follicular development

  16. RESULTS • 87 Reproductive Tracts • 80 Adults + 7 Sub-adults • 47 lb. sow with follicular development

  17. RESULTS • 35 Pregnant 43.75% • 40 Developing follicles 50.00% • 2 CL in ovaries 2.50% • 3 No repro activity 3.75% 80 Adult sows (77/80 showed repro activity in ovaries)

  18. RESULTS • 35 Pregnant 43.75% • 40 Developing follicles 50.00% • 2 CL in ovaries 2.50% • 3 No repro activity 3.75% 80 Adult sows (77/80 showed repro activity in ovaries)

  19. RESULTS CL Fetuses RE*__ Sum 229 176 76.85% ---------------------------------------------------------------- Mean 6.54 5.03 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Range (4-10) (2-10) ---------------------------------------------------------------- *RE = (# fetuses / # CL) x 100

  20. COMPARISON OF LITTER SIZE _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Location n Mean # of fetuses (range) Reference_____________ Louisiana 35 5.03 (2-10) Tolson and LaCour (2013) Georgia 17 6.20 (?-9) Hagen and Kephart (1980) (penned) Georgia 35 5.89 (3-11) Jolley (2007) (free ranging) South Carolina 8 7.40 (5-12) Sweeney et al. (1979) Tennessee 20 4.65 Henry (1968) Texas 64 5.40 (2-11) Delgado-Acevedo et al. (2010) (southern and central counties) Texas 21 6.30 Taylor et al. (1998) -South Texas Plains (western) Texas 18 5.60 Taylor et al. (1998) -Gulf Coast Prairie (eastern) New Zealand 291 6.20 (1-11) Dzieciolowskiet al. (1992) Spain 52 3.58 (1-7) Fernandez-Llario and Mateos- Quesada (1998)__________

  21. Conception Dates

  22. Farrowing Dates

  23. Breeding Biology of Wild Pigs in Louisiana • Average litter size is 5-6 • Conception and farrowing occurs year round • Two peaks in conception: • Broad peak from Sept. through Dec. • Narrow peak in Feb. – Mar. • Results not unexpected – parallels other hog populations across the south.

  24. Reproductive Potential www.flickr.com • Age of Reproductive Maturity • around 6 months • 47 pounds! • Number of Litters per Year • Commonly reported = 2/12 mos. • Actually = 2/15-18 mos. • Number of offspring per Litter • Average = 5 to 6 Wildpiginfo.msstate.edu

  25. Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals White-tail DeerWild Pig Reproductive maturity Avg. # offspring Frequency of breeding

  26. Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals White-tail DeerWild Pig Reproductive18 mo. ~ 6 mo. maturity Avg. # offspring Frequency of breeding

  27. Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals White-tail DeerWild Pig Reproductive18 mo. ~ 6 mo. maturity Avg. # offspring1.5 5-6 Frequency of breeding

  28. Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals White-tail DeerWild Pig Reproductive18 mo. ~ 6 mo. maturity Avg. # offspring1.5 5-6 Frequency of breeding1/12 mo. 1/8-9 mo.

  29. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs) • No reproductive senescence has been noted • Litters can be sired by more than 1 male • Males produce viable sperm year round • Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder

  30. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs) • No reproductive senescence has been noted • Litters can be sired by more than 1 male • Males produce viable sperm year round • Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder

  31. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs) • No reproductive senescence has been noted • Litters can be sired by more than 1 male • Males produce viable sperm year round • Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder

  32. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs) • No reproductive senescence has been noted • Litters can be sired by more than 1 male • Males produce viable sperm year round • Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder

  33. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • FEMALES: • Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months • May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos. • Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure • Food resources can influence reproduction

  34. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • FEMALES: • Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months • May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos. • Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure • Food resources can influence reproduction

  35. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • FEMALES: • Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months • May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos. • Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure • Food resources can influence reproduction

  36. REPRODUCTIVE FACTS • FEMALES: • Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months • May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos. • Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure • Food resources can influence reproduction

  37. CONCLUSIONS • Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media

  38. CONCLUSIONS • Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media • BUT, their reproductive potential is greater than native large mammals

  39. CONCLUSIONS • Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media • BUT, their reproductive potential is greater than native large mammals

  40. CONCLUSIONS • Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media • BUT, their reproductive potential is greater than native large mammals

  41. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Dr. James LaCour • Meghan O’Boyle • ULM Biology graduate students • USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services personnel • LDWF personnel • USFWS personnel at Lake Ophelia NWR and Upper Ouachita NWR • Barksdale AFB personnel

  42. QUESTIONS? http://www.iheartbacon.com/category/bacon-reviews/ tolson@ulm.edu

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